Collapsible draped partition



Jan9,1940. v. F. WALTER Em 2,186,510

COLLAPS IBLE DRAPED PART ITI 0N Filed Ilay 24, 1939 "Imi,

Mone/5* LANGE 5 Vf-R/vQ/v /1 ML new 75'] n L/O'- /5/ 5G. HG. 5 Muf/mw ATTaR/VEK Patented Juan.v 9, 1940.

UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE DRAPED PARTITION Vernon F. Walter, New York, N. Y., and Morris Lange, Cleveland Heights, hio, assignors to The Superior Funeral Cleveland, Ohio Supply Company,

Application May 24, 1939. sei-iai No. 275,114.

2 Claims.

This invention relates 'to supports for curtains and particularly to the collapsible or folding framework therein suitable for carrying drapes used as backgrounds for caskets and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to pro-` vide a framework and an attached curtain that will fold into a. carrying case, which case also serves as a supporting base for the framework.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lo Adevice of the type mentioned which may be readily set up or taken down by one person who need not be particularly skilled in the art and also without a loss of'time or other inconvenience.

A further object of the invention is vto construct such'device out of materials and parts which are inexpensive to manufacture or assemble, and which when collapsed is self-contained and con@ veniently transportable as a single compact and light-weight unit. l

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and claims together with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are designated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view Aof the partition with parts removed to show construction and assembly;

Figure 2 is a side view of the frame and casebase only taken along the lines 2-2 of the Figure l;

Figure 3 is a. front view of the frame collapsed into the case-base with the cover on and with one side of the case-base cut away to show the device as it is folded;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a -s'upport hingedly mounted inside the case-base and tensioned therein; f

- Figure 5 is a side view of the Figure 4 take along the lines 5--5 of that figure;

40 Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a snap-clamp of a support which keeps the support straight whenopened and which prevents it from folding in the middle when upright; and

Figure 'l is a front view of the same snap-clamp taken along the lines 1-1 of the Figure 6.

` Broadly this invention-consists of a container, a. supporting frame and a curtain hung thereon. Each of these parts will 'be described in detail hereinafter.

'I'he container member, sometimes referred to herein as the case-base is simply a long case or box Il) provided with a cover I I which is attached tothe rearward side of the box III with the hinges I2. I'he forward side and ends of the container 'i are provided with catches I3 which hold the case (Cl. 45-106i I0 in either the open or the closed position. The container member is also provided with simple carrying handles I4 to facilitate the transporta-j tion and handling of the device.

The longitudinal bottom I5of the case I0, which 5 serves as the actual base, is provided with two brackets I6, which are rmly attached to the bottom close to the ends thereof and in line with each other. These brackets' I5 may be simple L shaped blocks of wood or metal and are themselves each provided with a horizontal hole suitable for engaging a rather substantial pin I 1.

The twovertical support members are made of four stripsl of angle iron. The two lower support sections 2li are hingedly attached to the two brackets I 6 or are pivotally attached thereto with the pins I1. The support sections 20 are a little shorter than the bottom base I5 and fold inwardly therein. The pins I1 are long enough to contain coil springs I8 which are held in place with nuts 20 I9. The springs vI 8 are so constructed and mounted that one end of it engages the bracket I6 and the other end engages the vertical support section 20, so that the supports tend to rise and assume upright or vertical positions. This construction E and assembly is clearly show'nA in the Figures 4 and 5.

The vertical support member lower sections and upper sections 20a are folded inward and toward each other as indicated in the Figure 1,; and in order to keep Athem in a perfectly straight, upright and parallel arrangement, the central hinge portions or pivots 2I are provided with snapcatches 22. which automatically engage when the sections 20 and 20a are in line. A tensioned lnger or trigger releasek 23 permits the sections to be again folded when the knob 24 is raised. ri'he pivot and trigger release construction is clearly illustrated in the Figures 6 and 7.

'Ihe top horizontal piece referred to herein as 40 the bridge member has a cross-bar 21 .made of angle iron strips similar to the vertical sections and which may be shaped to conform to the configuration or design of the partition. The bridge member has two vertical portions 28 integral 45 therewith which are each pivotally connected to the top ends of the vertical supports 20a. The cross-bar 21 is slightly shorter than the bottom base I5 and lits in the container when the vertical support members 'are completely folded.

Mounted on the vertical portions 28 of the bridge member there are two ai'ms 30 which are swivelly connected thereto by the pins 3| through 4 the brackets 32. The arms 30 are slightly shorter than the bottom base I5 and are foldable in Ythe container parts I0 and Il respectively along with the supports 20 and 20a and cross-bar 21. The arms 30 are supported so as to open or swing laterally and may be curved or shaped as desired to conform to the design of the draped curtain and they are temporarily secured in position with the wing nuts 33 on the pins 3|.

The drape or curtain 35 is made of a. noncrushable or wrinkle proof fabric of which there are many kinds on the market. The curtain 35 is made in two sections, left and right. The drawing shows the right section' only; the left section being the same size and shape except in reverse formation.

The extreme right and left side portions 35a have a horizontal hem at their top edges which receive the arms 30. The more central portions have simple tabs 38 at their top edges, secured with conventional snap fasteners 33 which are looped around the cross-bar 21 for their support.

The two halves of the curtain 35 are fastened together, after being mounted on the frame, with Ithe fasteners 39a on their inside vertical edges and are suspended so as to completely cover the entire metal frame and container from front view.

The important advantages of the instant invention over similar devices in the art,lare that the article is always completely assembled and is always self-contained. There is nothing to remove, to take apart or to add for either folding or erection. Therefore, there is no likelihood of parts being misplaced, forgotten or lost. 'I'he parts last longer, especially the draped curtain because it is always packed and unpacked in the same way, thus minimizing wear and tear.

It is almost automatic in its operation because of the action of the springs I8 which tend to open the frame the moment the cover* Il is turned back. In opening the device all the operator need do is to adjust or position the arms 30 as desired at, the brackets 32. Upon closing the device the arms 30 are folded inward and under the cross-bar 21; the snap-catches are released and the frame is folded into the box, and

the curtain 35 folded into the container base as the frame is collapsed."

It will now be clear that there is provided by this invention a collapsible` draped partition which accomplishes the objects of the invention. While the invention has been `described and shown in its preferred form and while certain general terms havebeen used, it is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention as described is suggestive only and is not to be considered in a limiting sense. It is to be further understood that there may be other forms or adaptations of the invention and those modifications are also considered to be within the.broad scope of the invention as no limitations upon it are intended other than thoseimposed thereon by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A background for burial caskets, including a case, a collapsible frame receivable in the case, and connected thereto, and having a top member, an arm pivoted to each side portion of the frame adjacent its upper end and movable in one position to form a continuation of the top of the frame and to lie in the same vertical plane therewith, and in a second position to lie substantially parallel tothe frame so as to be foldable therewith and received in the case, means to rigidly secure each arm in adjusted position, and cur-` tains supported by and covering the frame and arms, the lower ends of each of the curtains being free and freely movable into and out of the case, whereby in use to provide for their disposition over the front of the case thereby to conceal the latter, said curtains having their adjacent sides formed to overlap and in said first position of the arms lying in the same vertical plane. whereby to impart the appearance of a continuous effect.

2. A background for burial caskets in accordance with claim 1, wherein the arms are mounted to substantially underlie the top member in folded position thereof.

VERNON F. WALTER.

MORRIS LANGE. 

